deadeye

[ded-ahy] /ˈdɛdˌaɪ/
noun, plural deadeyes.
1.
Nautical. either of a pair of disks of hardwood having holes through which a lanyard is rove: used to tighten shrouds and stays.
2.
an expert marksman.
Origin
1740-50; dead + eye; as nautical term, probably ellipsis from deadman's eye, Middle English dedmaneseye deadeye
Examples from the web for deadeye
  • The trick is launching the virtually weightless fly to a distant spot with deadeye accuracy.
  • The deadeye featured here was part of the rigging on the ship and controlled the ropes that raised and lowered the sails.
British Dictionary definitions for deadeye

deadeye

/ˈdɛdˌaɪ/
noun
1.
(nautical) either of a pair of disclike wooden blocks, supported by straps in grooves around them, between which a line is rove so as to draw them together to tighten a shroud Compare bull's-eye (sense 9)
2.
(mainly US, informal) an expert marksman